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Sikhism·Raag Goojaree·Shabad 57
Verse 28 of 66

The Highest Rank Isn't Born Into but Earned

ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮਃ ੩ ॥
salok mehlaa 3.
Shalok, Third Mehl:
ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਿੰਦੇ ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਜਿ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਏ ॥
barahm binday so baraahman kahee-ai je an-din har liv laa-ay.
One who understands God, who lovingly centers his mind on the Lord night and day, is called a Brahmin.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪੁਛੈ ਸਚੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਜਾਏ ॥
satgur puchhai sach sanjam kamaavai ha-umai rog tis jaa-ay.
Consulting the True Guru, he practices Truth and self-restraint, and he is rid of the disease of ego.
ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਗੁਣ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹੈ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਏ ॥
har gun gaavai gun sangrahai jotee jot milaa-ay.
He sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord, and gathers in His Praises; his light is blended with the Light.
ਇਸੁ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਕੋ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੇਟਿ ਸਮਾਏ ॥
is jug meh ko virlaa barahm gi-aanee je ha-umai mayt samaa-ay.
In this world, one who knows God is very rare; eradicating ego, he is absorbed in God.
ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਸ ਨੋ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਜਿ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਏ ॥੧॥
naanak tis no mili-aa sadaa sukh paa-ee-ai je an-din har naam Dhi-aa-ay. ||1||
O Nanak, meeting him, peace is obtained; night and day, he meditates on the Lord's Name. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The one who truly knows the One, whose mind rests on it day and night — that is what makes a Brahmin.

With the teaching, they live truth and self-restraint, and shed the disease of ego. They sing and gather the One's praises, and their light blends with the Light. Such a knower of the One is rare; Nanak says, meeting them brings peace.

The highest 'rank' isn't born into — it's earned by knowing the One, and it's open to anyone.
The deeper layer

A landmark Shalok that redefines caste: a "Brahmin" is not one born to a priestly family but "one who understands God" and rests the mind on the One. Spiritual rank is re-grounded in realization and love, not birth. This is the Vaar quietly dismantling the caste hierarchy — the highest title is available to anyone who knows the One, and closed to no one by birth.

A Question to Sit With

What 'rank' do you assume is fixed by birth or background that might really be open to anyone?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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